NCT07332039

The Effect of Watching Cat Videos on Non-Stress Test Results And Stress Parameters in Pregnant Women

The Effect of Watching Cat Videos on Maternal Stress and Fetal Well-being: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Pregnancy is a period in which women are physiologically and psychologically vulnerable, and the stress experienced can affect both maternal mental health and fetal well-being. The non-stress test (NST), used to assess fetal health in the final weeks of pregnancy, can cause anxiety in some women because it requires the mother to remain supine and immobile for extended periods. Prolonged testing or non-reactive results can also increase this stress. Therefore, simple methods are needed to reduce stress during NST. Humorous and cute content, especially animal videos, is known to promote positive emotions and psychological relaxation. This study evaluated the effects of watching cat videos during NST on stress levels and fetal physiological parameters in primiparous pregnant women.

Detailed description

Pregnancy is a sensitive period during which women experience a variety of changes, both physiologically and psychologically. Stress factors encountered during this period can negatively impact the mother's mental health and fetal well-being. Non-stress testing (NST) is a non-invasive screening method frequently performed in the final weeks of pregnancy to assess fetal health. However, during the NST, the mother lies motionless in a supine position for approximately 20 minutes, during which time she attempts to obtain sufficient data on the baby's heart rate and movements, which can cause stress and anxiety in some women. A prolonged duration or a non-reactive test result can be a cause for concern. Therefore, simple and effective methods are needed to reduce maternal stress during the NST. Humorous and cute content, especially animal videos, are known to evoke positive emotions and provide psychological relief in viewers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of watching a cat video during the NST procedure on stress parameters and fetal physiological parameters in primiparous pregnant women.

Conditions

• Maternal Stress
• Fetal Well-Being

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Group watching cat videos	The cat video, which will be shown to pregnant women as part of the study, will be implemented as an intervention to reduce participants' stress levels during the NST. The NST session takes approximately 20 minutes, and the video will be played for this duration. The content of the video will be carefully selected to create a relaxing and entertaining effect on the audience. Participants will begin watching the video immediately after connecting to the NST device and will continue to watch throughout the NST. This process aims to calm participants, reduce stress levels, and promote overall relaxation.
BEHAVIORAL	Non-Video Watching Group	Participants randomly assigned to the control group will also rest for 10 minutes in a private room and all initial measurements will be taken.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-01-25
• Primary completion: 2026-02-02
• Completion: 2026-02-05
• First posted: 2026-01-12
• Last updated: 2026-02-11

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)